‘Anything goes’ no more: Union president welcomes return of King County Metro fare enforcement
Feb 25, 2025, 5:01 AM
Worker inspects a King County Metro bus. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
In the wake of murdered King County Metro driver Shawn Yim, fare enforcement is coming back.
As , starting March 31, fare inspectors will ask King County bus passengers for proof of payment.
President Greg Woodfill told “The Gee and Ursula Show” on 成人X站 Newsradio Monday the pendulum is coming back around.
“It’s been tough on the drivers. It’s not just fare enforcement, it’s not not enforcing the rules, not being able to have the police come out and so the pendulum, society went through a stretch where we re-examined policing and the impact of that. So the pendulum swung all the way towards operators are having to drive in an environment, and passengers are an environment, where anything goes — there’s no accountability — and so thankfully, we’re kind of thinking about swinging it a little more back the other way,” he explained.
Related from MyNorthwest: King County Council members, union discuss how to better protect drivers, riders
King County Metro at less than half of needed police force
Woodfill hopes the reinstated guidelines will foster safer rides. However, 成人X站 Newsradio’s Angela Poe Russell, filling-in for Ursula Reutin, wondered if operators asking for fares will simply create more conflict. If that were to happen, Woodfill says they have a staffing crisis that won’t help.
“The problem is we have about 70 Metro Transit police now and we’re dealing with safety issues to where the reality is, an agency our size should have 270 instead of 70,” Woodfill responded. “And then so we rely on other police agencies. How much are they going to step in? They’re not going to show up. If you call a Federal Way or Kent or whatever, and say ‘There’s somebody here that’s not paying their fare.’ So it’s just kind of, we’re a stretched out system.”
Woodfill also shared that some community members shared concerns over “equity,” as critics worry King County Metro will target a neighborhood or subset of the population. Gee Scott, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on 成人X站 Newsradio, rejected the concern.
“This has nothing to do with nothing else but pay your damn fare,” Gee said.
Listen to the full conversation below:
Related news on MyNW: King County Metro to retrofit transit fleet with new safety feature following killing of driver
Listen to 鈥�The Gee and Ursula Show鈥�聽weekday mornings from 9 a.m.- noon on 成人X站 Newsradio, 97.3 FM.聽Subscribe to the podcast here.
Follow Julia Dallas on , and send聽news tips聽here.
